Settlement
Enables Washington Lakes to Receive Protections from Pesticides(Beyond Pesticides, July 14, 2005) Due to
a signed settlement agreement with the Washington State Toxics Coalition
and People for Puget Sound, the Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA) will dramatically increase protections for lakes from pesticide
applications. In the settlement agreement, WSDA will stop allowing applications
of herbicides directly to lakes to occur without permit approval from
the state Department of Ecology (Ecology). Private individuals must
now wait for Ecology to establish a new permit before they are able
to apply herbicides to lakes.

"This agreement
fixes a serious loophole that was allowing private individuals to put
poisons directly in lakes that people swim in, with little opportunity
for residents and others to stop harmful spraying," said Erika
Schreder, staff scientist with the Washington Toxics Coalition."Putting
pesticides into lakes should be a last resort, not a common occurrence."

According to Washington
State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) records, 75 separate herbicide
applications were made to Lake Washington, including Portage Bay, in
2004. Many of those applications were for private homeowners.

"Salmon need
clean water to thrive, and we won't have clean water as long as individuals
can apply herbicides to our lakes with little or no justification,"
said Naki Stevens of People for Puget Sound. "We are looking forward
to a new permit for aquatic herbicide use that makes sure the public
is informed and can participate in decision-making."

The agreement settled
a suit brought by Washington Toxics Coalition and People for Puget Sound
against WSDA. The groups, represented by Richard Smith of Smith &
Lowney LLC, brought suit against WSDA for failure to comply with the
permit issued by Ecology for use of herbicides to control aquatic noxious
weeds. WSDA had failed to comply with a number of permit requirements,
and was extending its permit coverage to individuals and other entities
with very little oversight. Meanwhile in Massachuettes, a ruling on
pesticide use on lakes prompted an appeal by pesticide activists (See
Daily News).

In a signed consent
decree, WSDA agreed to stop extending its permit coverage to individuals
and other entities. Herbicide applications under WSDA's permit will
occur only for noxious weeds of statewide significance such as Spartina
and purple loosestrife. WSDA will take a number of steps to ensure that
all of those applications meet the requirements of the permit. In addition,
Ecology has agreed to issue a new permit for aquatic pesticide use for
noxious weeds, and has already started the process of developing the
permit.

TAKE ACTION: Promote
safe and effective alternatives to toxic chemical use in your community.
Pesticides used in public lakes, parks, schools, office buildings and
other public areas are a threat to public health. Learn how to take
action by reading Beyond Pesticides'
Community Organizing "How-to" fact sheets and
Alternative Weed Management Strategies.